extras

If you ask me, the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is the best week of the year -- and probably not for the reasons you're thinking. Yes, most of us are still reveling in a post-holiday food/present/unresolved family tension coma in preparation for the new year, and I'm here to recommend embracing it: Turn it into a shrine to lethargy and sloth that would make Homer Simpson blush.

There's no other time during the year when you are expected to do less, so what better way to celebrate this time of lowered expectations than by hunkering down, bunker-style, armed with only Cool Ranch Doritos, a remote control, a helper monkey, and a bunch of complete seasons on DVD?

There is no better way, and there's no better time. People will be disappointed if you don't celebrate this period of unbridled self-indulgence. Here are some picks to get you started with what is soon to become tradition. Pass it on.

'The Ricky Gervais Show,' a cartoon version of the popular podcast featuring Gervais and his pals, debuts 9PM Friday. On it, Gervais and longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant (BBC's 'The Office' and 'Extras') chat with Karl Pilkington, a type of idiot savant who philosophizes on everything from human nature to monkeys. We did mention monkeys, didn't we?

The final 16-episode season of 'Lost' hasn't even started yet (we'll have a live chat tomorrow night for the season's premiere) and already there's release date for the DVD for that final season.

VideoETA and TVShowsOnDVD have announced that ABC and Disney will release a DVD set (both regular and Blu-ray) for the final season of 'Lost' on August 24. The set will include various features such as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the final season (and the show in general), interviews with cast and crew, audio commentaries, bloopers, deleted scenes, and hopefully some answers that we probably won't get when the show ends.

Boiling any decade's list of the best TV shows down to 40 is tough; a common viewer complaint is that there are hundreds of channels and nothing worth watching, but we'd argue that they're just not looking in the right places.

Our list of the 40 best shows of the 2000s is chockful of edgy dramas ('CSI' and 'Deadwood'), sharp comedies ('30 Rock' and 'Chappelle's Show') and reality shows -- like 'The Amazing Race' and 'Top Chef' -- that have transcended their genres to become just plain good entertainment. Family dramas, clever teens, "'Seinfeld' on crack" and comeback efforts by Kiefer Sutherland and Neil Patrick Harris also pepper our lineup, so delve into the AOL TV list of the top 40 shows of the 2000s and let us know what you think we got right and wrong.

The Office and Extras star Ricky Gervais might be looking to give up acting to focus more on writing and directing.

As talented and naturally funny as Gervais is, it could be said that he never really took up acting in the first place. While relaxed on camera, he's essentially played himself (or enhanced aspects of himself) in most TV shows or movies he's appeared in so far -- including his starring role in Ghost Town last year.

According to The Daily Star, Gervais is so in love with directing that he'd rather invest his time there, rather than take on more lead or supporting roles (as in the Night at the Museum series).

First of all, if for some reason you're an Ugly Betty fan that hasn't gotten around to seeing the season finale, click away and watch it right now, because there are spoilers ahead. Also, you should probably reconsider calling yourself an Ugly Betty fan because you're way, way late on the uptake.

Secondly, if you're curious about Ashley Jensen, you're in the right place. And I'm sorry for questioning your devotion to Betty and the gang a few sentences ago. That was uncalled for.

There's no doubt that the names Spike Jonze and David Cross usually belong on the quirkier side of the entertainment world, but I still never would have expected something like this. Apparently, the two have created a comedy pilot for Channel 4. That's right: a British comedy.

Of course, Gervais is a funny man and a cool, self-effacing celeb. But, it'll be interesting to see if even he can make something as inherently uncool as a man purse into swag a guy will want to spend money on -- cancer be damned.

The DVD for 'Out of England,' which aired on HBO last fall, hits stores on March 31, and captures the funny guy's first American stand-up tour, in which he managed to make un-PC jokes on such far-ranging topics as animals, fame, obesity, Nazis, gay sex and ... charity fundraising?

Next up, Gervais makes his movie directorial debut with the comedy 'This Side of the Truth' (fall 2009), co-starring Tina Fey, Christopher Guest and Jennifer Garner. But first, he talked to AOL TV about why his fave part of 'Out of England' is the gay sex, why his most beloved co-star is small and red ... and whether David Brent will ever road trip to Scranton.

When you hear about this celebrity tussle, I think you'll feel like me: "I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch these two go at it!" It turns out that Bravo's reality star, Flipping Out's Jeff Lewis, is fighting with Ashley Jensen, who plays Christina onUgly Betty.

Jeff, who specializes in buying properties then fixing them up and selling them -- flipping -- has a house under construction right next door to the home of Ashley and hubby Terence Beesley. If you've watched even one episode of Flipping Out, you know that Jeff has OCD and is extremely difficult to work for -- he fires workers at least twice a season -- and presses buttons like nobody's business.

This tussle falls under the pressing buttons category. Lewis had a deck built onto the house he was re-constructing, the one right next door to Ashley's, and went over the property line. Now, in Yonkers that would be a reason to get upset; in Hollywood, it's a good enough reason to go to war.

Gervais tells BBC News that his agent has been approached about him hosting the telecast but that he would be too scared to do it. Besides, they would probably want him to stick to a script and not let him adlib as much as he would like to.

"I don't wake up in the morning and say things like, "Ugh, I've got to work with f---ing David Bowie again today."

Ricky Gervais doesn't really hate handicapped people. He just plays a guy who hates them on stage.

The funnyman best known as creator and star of the original British 'The Office' and the HBO hit series 'Extras' returns to HBO this fall with his latest comedy act, 'The Out of England Tour' (premiering in November). The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning star is also up for three Emmys, including Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, for his 'Extras: Extra-Special Series Finale.'

Gervais talked to AOL TV about his upcoming projects, being in awe of Daniel Day-Lewis and why Steve Carell should watch his back -- literally.

In recent weeks, TV Squad has reported that HBO has made episodes of their new drama series In Treatment available for free viewing online. Now, HBO has taken another step in expanding its brand and making some of their top shows available on the web. The cable channel has just inked a deal with YouTube to create an HBO channel online. The HBO/YouTube site is up and running -- you can click over there today and start catching up on HBO series.

The initial line up is impressive, starting with the Gabriel Byrne drama In Treatment. You can also catch up with Entourage episodes, which are always fun. There are more laughs with Flight of the Conchords, Extras, Stand Up Comedy, Def Comedy Jam, and Real Time With Bill Maher. On the dramatic front, there's The Wire. In addition, you can watch episodes of the award-winning magazine show Real Sports, as well as the Latino documentary series Habla y Habla.